The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-02-17

''Do you know that you have never
said nor even limited that you cared any
| thing about me. Isabel?n
Haven't II" Isabel laughed one of
her rippling little laughs, which was
almost IA caress. i've been clever in
extracting promises from you, at any
rate"
Payments" he corrected, echoing
| irreSistibly her smile, as he laid
shapely brown hand on her shoulder,
and he said: Il love you very dearly,
! Isabel"
Poor fellow!" Isabel utilized one of
her patient smiles. Pay. all and get
| nUthinUr'
but you do love me little, don't
you? And you don't love anyone else
better-''his face grew dark and stern
as he spoke-''I couldn't endure that"
Isabel thought of these words as she
half confessed to Maggie lingering
tenderness for Robert Stanope, and
half resolve formed itself to tell Mr..
Stuart she did not love him and give
herself back her freedom. But the
thought of relinquishing her triumph
as mistress OF Shockoe, of all OF Mr.
Stuart's immense fortune, was too
much for her vanity.
The wedding'was over, the congratu-
lations had been offered, the lunch had
been served, and Isabel looking very
charming in her much-talk-of- -gO-away
gown, was chattering merrily with her
bridesmaids in the hall as her brother
approached her looking greatly annoy
ed, and said, with some hesitation:
Isabel, Mr.. Stuart has had tele-
gram; he must go to Nevada at once.
The train starts in five minutes. He
wishes you to decide for yourself
whether you will go or stay. You are
! free to do as you choose"
All eyes turned to the young bride,
who was by turns pale and red.
What did he say, PHILIP" she re-
peated again and again. Surely he
cannot expect"
mo; he doesn't expect anything"
The company had withdrawn to
the parlors and brother and sister
stood alone, only Maggie Sterns was
near-and more than certain what
Isabel's decision would be. Her broth
er says: do as you choose. Life
y q
would not find any society"
''How can decide anything all in
q moment-sOmebody help me-Mag-
gle, tell me what to do" Isabel
turned appealingly to her friend, but
Maggie only shook her head. This
was case she must assume herself.
'sDo you suppose he thinks L ought to
go, PHILIP" she asked suddenly; ''but
why can't he waltz"
because he can't, l suppose" her
brother said, bluntly. '.He must go
at once. Come, it's train time; say
quick
won't he come to say good-by?"
Isabel asked. in hurt tone.
mo; said he couldn't stand it. He
is awfully knocked up; by the way,
here's letter-don't want you to read
it, please till tomorrow"
LET me see him off at least"
mo use; trains off, hear the
whistle. Poor fellow" Phil could
not help saying-''I believe he half
thought you'd come, but the letter was
written in case you should not"
The letter which Phil Deering had
handed his sister ran thus;
when you read this shall be many miles
away. was an inadvertent listener to your
yealed more to me than even you yourself are
conscious of, perhaps. To associate with you
iite' life torture tort to US y both Therefore / 20
away, feeling that this is most what you de-
sire, and wishing only to conform to what
your ambition oravedEJohn Stuart's fortune
and the protection of his name. 1t is believ-
ing that his life can be best spent looking to
your happiness with the breadth of the States
between us that go believe that l know
you too well to fear to have the guarding of
my good old name from faint breath of
scandal in your keeping. | enjoin that you
60 at once to Shnckoe-where L, alas had
befirs john Stuart's wife. You will find at
your bankers carte Dlanch to draw as you
wish. | shall write you regularly, and require
OF you similar recognition OF our relations.
JOHN STUART.
p S--Let not thought of duty, or less con-
Yenances induce you to seek to follow me- If
your inclination had ever family prompted
thereto yon would have gone with me and
this would have been burned undeliyered. i
wish no unwilling allegiance. You owe me
nothing. | have, as you said yesterday, .
mistress for Shockoe and you have satisfied
ambition"
The months rolled by-gradually
the wonder of Peream spent itself in
vain imaginings and the strange alb
sence of Mr.. Stuart ceased to hs the
constant topic. After the first few
months it was rarely mentioned to his
wife, whose life at Shockoe was a
ceaseless round of gayety, which Pc
ream concluded rather questionable
taste in view of her husbands pro-
longed absence. She was usually gay
and apparently careless when the mat
ter was mentioned, but rather avoided
explanations. dubbed herself the grass
widow, but generally managed to men
ton items of news from her husbands
letters when friends whose Judgment
she might value called.
These letters came regularly. Never
personally, never remotely limiting at
| his inner self, but filled with charming
| accounts of western scenes and life,
odd characters and incidents of the
mining world, and Isabel gradually
realized that her husband, whom she
had seemed scarcely to know, was un-
usually clever, endowed with brill
liant Imagination and very caustio wit,
He made no reference to their odd
relations to one another beyond that
implied in exaeting his weekly letter;
nor did he remotely hint at his ever
returning to Peream.
| lSdDtl pCut "ihtOi A''N
gaveties of St. Louis and Washington
and returned home to find Robert
Stanope in Peream.
Il left a charming violet when l
went away" he said, gallantly, lean
ing over the doorway of Mrs. Stuart 5
handsome carriage-and offering its
occupant the hand from which he had
just drawn dainty glove-''a charm
ing violet, but the fairies have trans
formed it to magnificent lily. Let
me claim an old friends privilege,
Mrs Stuart, and say that you are
handsomer than ever"
The weeks flew by. Robert Stanope
was a daily visitor at ShOckoe. He
rode with its mistress or her guests,
rowed them on the river, devised
means of entertaining for her, was
ever ready with attentions, and some
times vaguely hinted at the hard fate
which had debarred him from COM
peting for the prize that alone could
have made life worth living, which
Isabel was accustomed to receive with
Jest or comment on his lazy life and